Mistake 1. I thought I was fat in 1989 when this picture was taken. Sheesh. I had no idea.
Mistake 2. Since I thought I was fat, I’d begun looking at what curvy girls who looked good wore and slavishly copied what I saw.
Mistake 3. I admired the look of girls who were curvy on top and never stopped to think that it might take a different formula to dress my pear-shaped body.
Mistake 4. I didn’t revisit the fashion choice of pleated jeans for more than a decade, even after I really was fat.
To avoid these sorts of mistakes now, I follow the advice from Staging Your Comeback by Christopher Hopkins, rely on my husband’s good eye for what looks good on me (now that we’ve been married long enough that he doesn’t feel he has to compliment me no matter how I look), and work with a personal shopper at Nordstrom’s who helped me dress during my weight loss journey and continues to help me adjust to my unfamiliar more slender silhouette.
The January Generation Fabulous blog hop theme is fashion faux pas, complete with pictures! This should be fun. Check out the other participants.
I’m afraid that I think you do look very cute anyway. Although I must agree that those of us with more on the bottom half don’t need to emphasize it with pleated pants.
You most definitely are NOT fat in that picture. I can’t believe how fat I thought I was when I was younger. What was I thinking?? And looking at my body through that lens wasn’t helpful or healthful in the least.
I’m going to check out Staging Your Comeback. That sounds like a book I’d love to read. I also think having the help of a personal shopper is great. I was able to use the services of one when I was in San Francisco a couple of years ago and I can’t believe how much time and frustration they saved me. And I think money because I didn’t waste any buying stuff that doesn’t suit me. I’ve spent so much money over the years buying stuff that didn’t suit me. I’m much pickier now that I’m older.
Nice post, Joy.
Oh, I remember those pants! I think I had a pair of something call Caviarichis that were pleated on top, and then tapered at the bottom! Ouch.
Staging your Comeback looks like a great read! Thanks for mentioning it!
Pleats have never been my friend but I keep inviting her over for a visit! Congrats on your new look.
Yes Joy, so true! Why is it we failed to “revisit our fashion choices,” and made the same mistakes for years? Go figure! -Laura Lee
Pleated anything was so big back in the day. What a revelation it was to wear pants without extra fabric! And no, you were not fat at all…how sad that we all thought we were.
You were cute in your baggy, pleated jeans! Granted, you’d probably have been cute in less baggy jeans, but, really, look how they divert the eye away from your giant ’80′s glasses (which I myself wore until the mid-2000′s).
LOL! An excellent point!
Those pleated pants were very stylish back in the day! And you do not look fat at all!
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I had those same pleated jeans! I I too marvel when I look at old pictures of me when I thought I was fat…sigh.
Ah yes, the pleated pants. Could never wear that style and was glad when it went away.
I think you look utterly adorable in that photo. Honestly, I don’t think pleated jeans flatter ANYONE’s figure.
You looked adorable! As a woman who has always had more in the booty, I think pleated jeans fit must have better. I remember shopping with my husband and he wouldn’t buy pleated slacks and a light bulb went off for me!
I remember those pants well – and they look really good on you. I have a ridiculously short waist, so those pants always looked like they were snapping under my chin. Enjoyed this journey down memory lane!!
I think you looked cute in the photo.
I have to say … I think you look adorable in that pic, too!
I don’t know I’d ever have the guts to show pictures of what would be considered my “fashion faux pas” years … which was basically everything from the time I was, say, 11 to, say, 24. Fortunately I’ve been introduced to some lovely fashion choices (and started watching a few TV programs that show plus-sized gals how to dress to flatter, not flatten or hide)! Thanks for your boldness in sharing!
I did pleats too. It’s on my list of “Never agains.”
I was the same. I always thought I looked fat when I was younger too. Now I am proud when my husband says that I look like I could do someone some serious damage LOL.
Ah! The pleated jeans! What were we thinking with those! I love the book Staging Your Comeback. So fun to look at the photos and you do not look fat at all.